"Spiritual" People

darkdubh · 19-05-2017 12:12AM

Widdershins wrote: »

An ambiguous term.

Yes, what the hell does it even specifically mean? Usually used by people who feel they have to believe in "something" even if they don't know what it is they're believing in.

One eyed Jack · 19-05-2017 01:25AM

Stonedpilot wrote: »

I'd like to think I've an open mind and like going to talks/meditation and bascally anything involved in self discovery of self growth. It often amazes me how 'spiritual' people can be so petty and easily led. A case in point. I went to an event recently and people were at the start of it looking at a video of this guy 'Mooji' on youtube. The people at his talk in India were literally falling at his feet and kissing them!. When I pointed out at the event I was at that his knowledge of the Bible is non exisent I was met with scowls and scornful looks!. So much for peace and love eh!.

Why do you keep going to these meetings if you're not only going to act all indignant and feign disbelief from pissing people off?

Coming next week:

"I went to an LGBT meeting and told them Caitlyn Jenner was really a man. Well, so much for tolerance, eh!"

Alizrian Crimson · 19-05-2017 02:40AM

Remember seeing a documentary about a yogi in India, maybe the famous one, how turned out to be a pederast. Unless you can actually perform miracles I don't give a **** about your spiritual bull****.

Donald Trump · 19-05-2017 02:48AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I've been a practitioner of meditation for the past two years. It has been a tremendously enjoyable and useful way of engaging with the spiritual side of my humanity. I've found that 15 minutes of silent practice in the morning, with a 10 minute loving-kindness practice session in the evening. has led to benefits that really allow me to be the man I want to be.
Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

Is that what the youngsters do be calling it these days? ...... There are much more fun ways to fill it let me tell you. You just need to meet the right young lady!

The Bishop Basher · 19-05-2017 08:19AM

darkdubh wrote: »

Yes, what the hell does it even specifically mean? Usually used by people who feel they have to believe in "something" even if they don't know what it is they're believing in.

You say that like it's an issue..

It obviously bothers you on some level but if it doesn't bother them what does it matter ?

......... wrote: »

In Ireland we have a saying that has been developed through the mists of time . . .when you pull your head out of your arse . . . let us know.

We have another saying here in Ireland..

Live and let live

......... · 19-05-2017 08:21AM

Swanner wrote: »

We have another saying here in Ireland..

Live and let live

Never heard that one in Ireland.

The Bishop Basher · 19-05-2017 08:50AM

......... wrote: »

Never heard that one in Ireland.

Well you have now

Roger Hassenforder · 19-05-2017 09:37AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

So many "wuts?"...

Vojera · 19-05-2017 10:30AM

OP, I know what you mean.

I've met a few people who are big into yoga as a lifestyle (rather than just a bit of exercise to stay bendy) and they like to portray themselves as these beatific individuals full of light and positivity. But inevitably, once I got to know them a bit better, I discovered they were all incredibly judgemental, they loved criticising and passing remarks on others, and were surprisingly small-minded. A bit of a superiority complex, I think.

I guess under it all, they're just humans too and we're all flawed in some way.

But I don't see it as a problem with "spiritual" people, to be honest. Sure we all know a Holy Joe or five who likes to think of themselves as Jesus' best friend while simultaneously treating their earthly brethren like dirt. People are people, no matter what they believe.

sbsquarepants · 19-05-2017 10:44AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I've been a practitioner of meditation for the past two years. It has been a tremendously enjoyable and useful way of engaging with the spiritual side of my humanity. I've found that 15 minutes of silent practice in the morning, with a 10 minute loving-kindness practice session in the evening. has led to benefits that really allow me to be the man I want to be.
Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

You stuck what in your god hole? You dirty bastard:eek:

Also I would have assumed a high achieving cabin builder such as yourself would understand that mediation and meditation are different:rolleyes:

Birneybau · 19-05-2017 11:27AM

Stonedpilot wrote: »

I'd like to think I've an open mind and like going to talks/meditation and bascally anything involved in self discovery of self growth. It often amazes me how 'spiritual' people can be so petty and easily led. A case in point. I went to an event recently and people were at the start of it looking at a video of this guy 'Mooji' on youtube. The people at his talk in India were literally falling at his feet and kissing them!. When I pointed out at the event I was at that his knowledge of the Bible is non exisent I was met with scowls and scornful looks!. So much for peace and love eh!.

I often find these types get sucked into a 'New Age' buzz and will follow any old chancer who is meddling new age mysticism mixed with freemasonic teaching as gospel. These types are endless these days with celeb gurus now like Eckhart Tolle and Neale Donald Walsch. These guys are clearly charlatans in my book and someone with any sort of open or 'enlightened' mind should see this miles off but so many are taken in and the whole spiritual growth movement suffers because of it.

Rather than people growing from experience it's simply a case of the blind leading the blinds and it's kinda sad to see. Anyway off to chant naked on a mountain top now. Peace!.

You sound as bad at the rest to be honest. NONE OF IT IS REAL!

Stonedpilot · 20-05-2017 02:23PM

Birneybau wrote: »

You sound as bad at the rest to be honest. NONE OF IT IS REAL!

What exactly isn't real?. Sound like Morpheus in the Matrix.

I differ from them in that I don't think I'm spiritual profound, most of these folk do. I think like Oscar Wilde said we are all in the gutter but some are looking at stars.

ThinkProgress · 20-05-2017 04:10PM

All of these belief systems... whether you call it religion or spiritualism or whatever... it's all a form of mental illness imho.

That mental illness is born out of a deep fear of the unknown. Their brains are literally overheating at the thought of those big scary unanswered (possibly unanswerable) questions... so they invent something to believe in. Something to distort reality and distract themselves from something that is causing them a lot of mental anguish. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as effective as they would like everyone else to think...

It's a fear we all possess on some level... but some of us are just dealing with that reality better than others, and don't feel the need to lie to ourselves or invent BS coping mechanisms!

It's a bit of a cop-out to just say, "leave these people to it..." or "they're not doing anyone any harm"... because they are doing harm to themselves and to society. Their fantasies are not harmless. Society needs to continue to challenge these beliefs, and if possible push them further away from mainstream culture! We will all be better for it in the long run...

Widdershins · 20-05-2017 04:12PM

It sounds like the OP just expected a bit more, or better of the group.

Ben Gadot · 20-05-2017 04:17PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

Spiritualism is religion for lightweights.

To me anyone who ever described themselves as spiritual obviously found comfort in elements of religion but were too soft to label it as believing in elements of an actual ascribed religion for fear of not being "in" with their peers.

I've more respect for someone that labels such belief rather than the person that avoids it in a spoofy manner. Any decent person wouldn't ridicule someone over doing so.

The_Valeyard · 21-05-2017 07:13AM

ThinkProgress wrote: »

All of these belief systems... whether you call it religion or spiritualism or whatever... it's all a form of mental illness imho.

That mental illness is born out of a deep fear of the unknown. Their brains are literally overheating at the thought of those big scary unanswered (possibly unanswerable) questions... so they invent something to believe in. Something to distort reality and distract themselves from something that is causing them a lot of mental anguish. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as effective as they would like everyone else to think...

It's a fear we all possess on some level... but some of us are just dealing with that reality better than others, and don't feel the need to lie to ourselves or invent BS coping mechanisms!

It's a bit of a cop-out to just say, "leave these people to it..." or "they're not doing anyone any harm"... because they are doing harm to themselves and to society. Their fantasies are not harmless. Society needs to continue to challenge these beliefs, and if possible push them further away from mainstream culture! We will all be better for it in the long run...

Believing in a religion is not a mental illness. Your post reads just as bad as an extreme Iranian cleric.

Lady is a tramp · 21-05-2017 07:33AM

I think knowing yourself and being able to sit comfortably with yourself is pretty much the definition of being spiritual. (But it's such a personal concept; of course not everyone will agree with that.)

I know I've mentioned on here before about how I spent seven months in a religious addiction treatment centre (the usual is twelve weeks, and even at that it's the longest residential program available in Ireland - I did it twice consecutively!) In that centre, we did meditation twice a day, and I can tell you for a group of people so full of self-hate and anger and sadness and despair, those meditations were the absolute hardest part of it, for many. Sitting in silence with your eyes closed, with no one in your head but yourself.

And do you know something - in the height of my addiction, on the outside, at least I had the internet and my phone for some bit of escapism - you don't even have that in treatment, you're left to go to sleep every night with nothing to distract you, no one to talk to but yourself. And it's really f*cking character-building. You mightn't like yourself very much, you mightn't like what you've done or who you are or the life you've got ... but you quickly realise that there's one person who can change all of that, and it's you. It's really empowering. It's amazing how fundamentally you can change, when the circumstances are right.

I'm not religious now, any more than I was going in there. But I'm certainly spiritual, and that doesn't mean that I believe in crystals or horoscopes or any of that (though I'm less judge-y of those who do believe in those things.) To me, being spiritual just means that I believe in goodness, that I (finally!) see the value in myself and in others, that I am compassionate and empathetic and loving and open to the same in return.

me_right_one · 21-05-2017 09:50AM

Zebra3 wrote: »

Being spiritual and having a knowledge of the bible aren't necessarily connected.

After all the bible is full of hatred, glorifies war, ethnic cleansing and genocide and gives the thumbs up to incest and slavery.

Amongst other vile stuff.

And being spiritual is all a load of bollocks anyway.

This is a good example of ignorance everybody. Its a bit like saying "Schindlers List" was a documentary on the best way to gas people.

Not that I need to say this, but Schindlers list was about the rescue of people stuck in the war. Its about love, and helping your fellow man. It wouldnt be the same without the backdrop of the Nazi's. Similarly, the Bible has slavery and war, occupation etc., but out of all this horrible mess, Jesus emerges and says "Forgive your enemy. Turn the other cheek. Love each other", etc.

Now, I'm assuming Zebra3 is of average intelligence, so he/she knows this stuff. Therefore, they are either trolling, or are being willfully ignorant.

Widdershins · 21-05-2017 10:00AM

I was given a copy of the Desiderata when I was 16. I always found it an effective thing to remember it when stressed. It's worth a Google for those who don't know it.

Lady Is A Tramp I know someone who goes on retreat to a monastery once a year to keep herself anchored, and I have always found the Cistercian/ Benedictine monks very peaceful to be around, and I'm not religious.

dirtyden · 21-05-2017 10:09AM

Erik Shin wrote: »

When someone says,
"im not religious... but I am spiritual"
I hear,
"I'm not a cock...I'm a pretentious cock'

So much irony here.

Roger Hassenforder · 21-05-2017 12:09PM

"Lady wrote:

I spent seven months in a religious addiction treatment centre ...-in the height of my addiction...
I'm not religious now, any more than I was going in there.

Why were you in for treatment for religious addiction if you weren't religious?

(You can tell me feck off, none of my business , I won't be offended)

Erik Shin · 21-05-2017 12:24PM

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

Why were you in for treatment for religious addiction if you weren't religious?

(You can tell me feck off, none of my business , I won't be offended)

I'm presuming it was an addiction centre for drugs or alcohol, run by a religious order

Lady is a tramp · 21-05-2017 12:50PM

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

Why were you in for treatment for religious addiction if you weren't religious?

(You can tell me feck off, none of my business , I won't be offended)

Cuan Mhuire. They treat just about every type of addiction except religious addiction (and I encountered quite a few religion addicts in there!)

But yeah, as said above, I was there for alcohol addiction, it's run by Catholics.

I resisted going there for a long time, as I was atheist, but I'd run out of my VHI days in private psychiatric hospitals, and the HSE was long shot of me - both the public and private psychiatrists agreed I was pretty much a lost cause, my mental health and addiction issues were really THAT bad.

Cuan Mhuire - well, the people there - I won't say they "saved" me or "fixed" me, they just SAW me, and accepted me, which was far more important. And yeah, I did the two programmes there, and I'm now doing really well in "real life" (with their continuing support and Aftercare sessions.) Would highly recommend the programme to anyone suffering from addiction, or anyone who knows anyone that is. They save lives and restore families every single day - the work they do is amazing.

......... · 21-05-2017 01:03PM

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

Cuan Mhuire - well, the people there - I won't say they "saved" me or "fixed" me, they just SAW me, and accepted me, which was far more important. And yeah, I did the two programmes there, and I'm now doing really well in "real life" (with their continuing support and Aftercare sessions.) Would highly recommend the programme to anyone suffering from addiction, or anyone who knows anyone that is. They save lives and restore families every single day - the work they do is amazing.

Scummy Catholics, how dare they.

Lady is a tramp · 21-05-2017 01:09PM

......... wrote: »

Scummy Catholics, how dare they.

Meh. I still have my fair share of problems with the Catholic Church - both as an entity, and on a personal level.

I think most people in Ireland probably don't realise how many people and families and communities are helped by Cuan Mhuire.

On the other hand, I really don't think it's right that this country relies on the likes of Cuan Mhuire to sort out our alcoholism/addiction issues. When similar services should really be readily available from the HSE.

......... · 21-05-2017 01:19PM

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

On the other hand, I really don't think it's right that this country relies on the likes of Cuan Mhuire to sort out our alcoholism/addiction issues. When similar services should really be readily available from the HSE.

Neither do Catholics, the state and it's politicians got away with doing as little as possible in this country.

potatohouse · 21-05-2017 10:37PM

your man 'mooji' is good, but a bit of a snake as all these nondual teachers usually are. nondualism is the idea that "everything is god" but what those lads forget to mention is that while "everything is god" they themselves personally are not. so they get a handy following.

in my experience i find people complaining about others says more about the complainer than the complainee. if a holy book keeps people from being outright cunse then let them at it. if crystal collections do it, so be it. if chanting allahu akbar does it, let them at it! you can waste your life calling everyone else charlatans and flexing the ego or you can let humans be humans. nobody knows why we exist, nothing wrong with trying to make sense of it all or trying to improve your self/the world!

dcm22 · 21-05-2017 11:06PM

Googled the definition:

==
Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. In general, it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. As such, it is a universal human experience—something that touches us all.
==

I wasn't so self aware or spiritual in the past but I am now. But I do kind of cringe when I'm doing yoga and they start talking about chakras and stuff.. that kinda fringes on nonsense but maybe I'm just ignorant.

"Spiritual" People

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